Can't believe I'm saying this but: STOP WINNING

ljp24 · Post #1 » by **ljp24** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:12 am

We're only .010 W% higher than the Wizards. We NEED the no.1 pick. Yeah, good team, woop.

BadWolf · Post #2 » by **BadWolf** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:21 am

last teams rarely get first picks

big L · Post #3 » by **big L** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:48 pm

There's never a good reason to stop winning.

Post #4 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:35 pm

Last team has a 25% chance at getting the 1st pick. 2nd to last has a 20% chance of getting it.

Personally, I will trade that 5% to 1) not be the joke of the nba and 2) gear up the excitement over the team, and hopefully get the fans even more excited about nba basketball.

sonic-ben · Post #5 » by **sonic-ben** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:38 pm

I perfer patience and load up on talent

Please get trade out today... Wilcox, Smith , Watson

then if we win.... fine

wiff · Post #6 » by **wiff** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:18 pm

Not to break up the Blake Griffin love fest but they odds of the Thunder landing him in the draft are slim. And simply look at last year when Chicago won the draft lottery.

If the Thunders ping pong ball comes up second or third they may be able to move up with extra picks. But honeslty I think the asking price might be Green and the Thunders pick for Griffin. What GM isn't going to try to put Presti over a barrel? He knows what Griffin means to OKC heck everyone on this board with two brain cells knows what Griffin means to OKC.

And honestly do you really want Durant to continue to lose? The kid is only 20 it has to be getting into his head at some point. Same goes with Green too.

I still think Green and Durant will make a devastating front court. Let's be honest. It isn't about this season or even next season with the Thunder. But come 2010/11 season Durant will be around 30 to 40 pound heavier and those two will simply be creating chaos for other teams. With both guys being able to take it inside and out, no one will be able to stop them. Plus they both should be able to cover either the SF or the PF spot.

If I were Presti I'd draft the best SG prospect, probably Harden. Then spend some of the cap on an established rebounding and shot block machine of a Center who has shown he can play in the league. Then let he and Nenad split minutes. But I would not draft another project at the 5 spot.

However if I were to make a trade I might go after Noah from Chicago. He has a high blocks per 48 rate being 6th in the league and he also has a high rebounds per 40 rate being 9th in the league. Plus he is the right age too. And as much drama the guy might bring you know he just wants to win and he has won at Florida.

He is a little light in the shorts but you know in time he will add weight too.

Post #7 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:11 pm

wiff, I totally agree with you... until the last part, hehe. Not really a big Noah fan. But I'm totally on board with the rest of what you said

Joel Embust · Post #8 » by **Joel Embust** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:40 pm

Screw tanking! It's fun to watch these kids play with passion, confidence and a winning attitude. Let the winning continue..

ljp24 · Post #9 » by **ljp24** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:41 pm

wiff wrote:However if I were to make a trade I might go after Noah from Chicago. He has a high blocks per 48 rate being 6th in the league and he also has a high rebounds per 40 rate being 9th in the league. Plus he is the right age too. And as much drama the guy might bring you know he just wants to win and he has won at Florida.

He is a little light in the shorts but you know in time he will add weight too.

'No, don't touch him. He is horrible and vastly overrated. Sure he adds rebounds, but that's it.

TheOGJabroni · Post #10 » by **TheOGJabroni** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:05 pm

Obviously Blake Griffin would be terrific for OKC, he's the best player in the draft and he would be great as a hometown favorite. But in all honesty, with the way this team is shaping up, there are bigger holes in the team than the 4 spot. Someone like James Harden would be terrific on this team.

Krstic
Green
Durant
Harden
Westbrook

And you figure in the other picks in this draft along with some of the bench this team already has and you have a pretty solid team going into next year.

Post #11 » by **wizkid27** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:50 pm

boxFcelts, I totally agree with you... and I don't really feel like Griffin fits in that well with this team, it's just that on the PR side, I don't see how a new franchise with the number 1 pick coming out of their backyard can no do everything they can to get him.

TheOGJabroni · Post #12 » by **TheOGJabroni** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 1:57 am

Yeah I was saying Harden for OKC if they get anything other than the #1 pick really. If they land #1 then obviously the choice is Blake, not just for OKC but any team that lands the first pick.

Post #13 » by **wizkid27** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:11 am

Yup, they've gotta take him, but I really don't know if it's best for their team...

88' Draft Pick · Post #14 » by **88' Draft Pick** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:53 am

Who here believes Blake Griffin is actually 6-10? I have a hard time believing that. His size is one thing that concerns me. But yeah its not the end of the world if we dont get Blake. A great shooting gaurd would be outstanding for this team.

Post #15 » by **wizkid27** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 am

As I've said, I'm not a big fan of Blake... but one thing that you can definitely say about him, is that he plays bigger than his size. I believe he, even at the NBA level, will be able to be a force in the paint.

wiff · Post #16 » by **wiff** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:25 pm

Height means a ton in the league. How many 5'7" centers do you see in the league?

I doubt Blake Griffin is over 6'8" in his socks. But the guy does have tremendous hops.

There have been a handful of guys who are 6'8" and are very effective in the post. Boozer has a similar frame. Brand is 6'8" but has incredibly long arms. Barkley was even shorter and is one of the 50 greatest of all time.

Part of me wonders if he'll have "Ammo" disease? A monster in college but every night he will be going up against guys who are taller, stronger and just as quick. I've watched a handful of Sooner's game this season and the guy doesn't have much range on his jumper. It might take him some time to be really effective (That's the case for most kids). But eventually I think the guy will be a good player.

One stat that always translates to the next level is rebounds. Typically if you are a good rebounder in college you bring that to the next level. Never do you see a kid in college who is a poor rebounder become a stud rebounder in the nba.

But honestly I don't see the Thunder's ping pong ball coming up Blake Griffin.

TDcraz5 · Post #17 » by **TDcraz5** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:19 am

You don't wanna tank for the #1 pick...It never works out in your favor. You'll still have a good shot at landing it in the lottery even if your not the worst team in the NBA. Winning is the only way to gain respect, not draft picks. Fellow Knick fans want to see us tank so we can make the lottery rather than making the 7th/8th seed in the playoffs. I think that idea is garbage. The only way we're gonna attract big free agents like LBJ, Wade, Bosh, etc. is if we're a winning organization before they get there. I'm not saying we're gonna do much in the playoffs if we make it, but we'll still gain some respect from it. Plus, I wanna see how players like Lee, Robinson, Duhon, and Chandler play under the big spotlight. It will give us more insight towards who we should keep for the future.

Playing a D'Antoni coached team in the first round could be dangerous for a team like the Celtics.